Back To Basics: How To Set Up Your Drums

By

Dave Constantin

August 27, 2013 12:43 pm

Snare

Next you want to place the snare drum in a comfortable position. The
height and angle will vary for everyone, but this may be the most
crucial adjustment parameter on the whole kit since it’s the drum
you’re going to be playing most often. Set it too high and
you’ll be smacking the hoop all the time unintentionally; too low
and your thighs will get in the way of your down strokes. Start with
something around belt-buckle height and adjust from there until you can
hit rimshots and ghost notes comfortably and consistently at every
dynamic. Traditional-grip players sometimes angle the snare away from
the body, drum corps–style (i.e., Steve Smith). If you’re
playing matched grip, though, tilting the snare just a little toward you
follows the natural angle of your sticks while playing, and is the
default for most drummers. (Fig. 3)

Fig. 3

Bass Drum Pedal

Next you’ll want to attach the bass drum pedal to the bass drum
batter side. Most companies will include a hoop protector pad with a
sticky backing that you can lay down on the hoop where the clamp grips
on. You want to attach the pedal clamp right in the center of the hoop
(Fig. 4) so the bass drum sits fully stable like a tripod between the
legs and kick pedal.

Fig. 4

The beater height setting is an important and often overlooked
consideration. On any bass drum under 24", the beater will tend to hit
the head above center — as you can see on this 22" kick (Fig. 5)
— and nearly dead center on a 24". You’ll want to set the
beater shaft in the clutch at its balance point. Just like when you pick
up a pair of sticks and feel for the fulcrum, you’ll want to think
in the same vein with the bass drum beater. Clamping it at the fulcrum
will give it a more responsive throw and rebound off the head. At the
same time, make sure the bottom of the beater shaft doesn’t make
contact with the head on the backswing or you’ll wear a hole into
your head before you know it, not to mention retarding the movement of
the beater on each stroke.